We admit it. We are competitive people. We get aggressive at estate sales. (We submit that a vintage Platner table will do that to anyone.) We’ve scaled walls to get into abandoned storage units to find the good stuff before our “friends” get the chance. We’ve out-bargained, out-haggled, and out-bartered even the most skilled shoppers. So when the two of us join forces, expect good things at dirt-cheap prices.

Our most recent adventure took us to Gold Metal Recyclers, a metal recycling facility in South Dallas where individuals and businesses trade in various metal objects for cash. The result: piles and piles of discarded metal—including aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and more—just begging for exploration. On three separate trips, we focused our efforts on a gigantic mound of glorious brass. We struck gold (or brass, anyway) all three times.

But there’s way too much good stuff for just two people, so go. Here’s what you need to know: wear closed-toe shoes. Tennis shoes are fine; boots are better. Once you arrive, tell the good people there what you’re looking for. They will point you in the right direction and arm you with the necessary hard hat. Everything is sold by the pound for cash. One last thing—expect to get dirty. You’re digging around in a scrap yard, after all. But a little grime is a small price to pay on your quest for the brass ring.